Anyone Else Fish Alligator Lake Safety Harbor Fl, Bellows Lake Watershed? Pinellas County?looking For Some More Angler's To Fish Our Endless Water.

[primetime]

I was curious if anyone fishes some of the lakes in Pinellas and Tampa areas of Florida besides just Lake Tarpon or Hillsbourough River if the Drive to Winterhaven or Orlando is too far?

 

I have been putting my Kayak into lakes from Lakeland,Polk,Tampa,Pinellas, and the only lake I see boats is on Alligator Lake and most are Crappie Fisherman, or Saltwater Guys fishing the spillway. I rarely see anyone fishing any of the managed areas or Google public lakes which have decent access for a jon boat, kayak, just not from shore. Is that why info is unheard of? We all know every puddle has Bass in it, so if you have a computer and are friendly with local tackle shops you can find some real Gems, only just now did I realize the public places were holding legit Lunkers.

 

Anyway, I just considered 1-4lb range at say Alligator Lake-Creek-watershed from my Kayak over the years to be about right, however I figured something was off that kept fish from growing over 5lbs. I had a morning last week of about 15 fish in 2 hours all in the 11-18" range and have been targeting large fish in the process. I fished that lake & 2 others of similar size a few miles away last night with a buddy and I watched a legit 8lb plus Bass landed around midnight on a chug bug, and after he let his fish go, I actually saved my rod from going overboard as a fish almost as large smashed my Gulp EEL on the bottom...Long story short, but I feel these lakes could hold True "Lifetime" Fish yet we all drive hours to work the same areas of endless grass only to get 5 good fish after a thousand casts since 3 tournaments are happening at the same time.

 

Sorry for the ramble, just came home, could not find any info on Bass Reports in this area and I know plenty of people who fish Tarpon and Canal but have told me since I arrived from NY that Tarpon had the Biggest Fish. Maybe, but I like woking a pattern on a 100 acre or smaller lake and learning it and I can say that Alligator has taken us a good 2 years to understand, I guess Bigger Fish are rare & night is scary with that Huge Gator, but we heard big fish breaking that were not the norm, so any info would be appreciated. If anyone would like to hit a lake in the area send me a message and we can hit my favorite pond only if you agree to wear a blindfold and I am serious as I have nurtured some "wasted oversilted habitat" into Bass Fishing Festivus before taking a trip to some lakes that look fantastic and I have already scouted for solid forrage bases that I want to explore before the Winter and maybe someone knows this area like I do.   I never trespass or fish on land that I do not have permission to fish, so I figure talking public water can't hurt since we have endless places.

 

Before I go to sleep, I have struggled on Medard and tournaments are so so on that lake and I am most interested in Walsingham, Taylor, Bellows(if you fished it you know it as it has 6 names since you would have gone back. Anyone fish Keystone,Sunset, or any of the other lakes I will not mention near the saltwater lake by Thonassasa which I find to be awful.

 

 Keystone area has to be good, but has anyone ever spent time during a Spring or Fall to work just Race Trak Road? I could spend a summer on Ski Lake which is small and never get bored, and that is a waste with Google showing paridise that never gets hit, or at least hit in areas that would shred 20lb Cajun red line or a panfish jig.....Any info please contact me, I know alot of people in the area and just looking to explore with some new Angler's who enjoy new challenges and healthy competition as we like to bet lures etc...Leave expensive tackle at home or a 17 year old will flip anyone silly, actually 2 of them are that good, and want to hit some weekdays while I have time to do so while fishing is great...Good Night, I am not crazy just tired and may have poisened myself with bug spray as they were bad last night. I will trade spots if interested. Thanks

[Borden80]

Hey man, I'm in the tarpon springs area for work for a few weeks, I'd be up to meet up for some fishing.

[MCS]

There been threads with info on pinellas as far as pond hopping. Not reposting. Will say u try the ponds at sawgrass off 62nd between 34 and 9 st.

[basslovr]

Don't give up on Alligator Lake in Safety Harbor......there are some pigs in there....most of the bigger ones are caught flipping the reeds that line the shore....the stigma that fishermen are all liars will always put doubt in peoples minds, but I have heard of several fish in there that are well over 10 lbs....my pb there is 7.5 so I would not doubt that there are bigger ones in there. Walsingham also holds some large fish as that lake has some really deep holes in it....I have caught some decent fish in Taylor Reservoir but nothing over 3 lbs...although I have heard "stories".......you just never know.... Lake Chatauqua behind Dimmit Chevrolet is very fishy and I have spooked some really big fish there, but have never caught anything over 3 to 4 lbs there either......this last one is only accessible by canoe/kayak and only hand-launched...they do not allow trailers as there is very limited parking space.

[Grantm1120]

Also good snook fishing in the winter on the bay side. Wade around docks, throw 1/4 oz. root beer jig. Good luck

[John G]

Anybody ever fish John Chestnut Sr. Park in Palm Harbor? That is the only place that I fish. It's all covered up in alge now except the big pond part. I caught 5 at the park last week on a mixture of Flukes and Yum Dingers.